"Du gai soleil"
from Werther (Jules Massenet)
with Carolien Drewes, piano
© Clive Chiao Photography 
© Ai Horton 
© Clive Chiao Photography 
© Ai Horton 05/26/2024 | 16:00
Uitzendkantoor Bach III
BachPlus
Chorister with BachPlus performing music by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, under the direction of Bart Naessens (Sint-Bavokerk, Aardenburg, NL)
05/26/2024 | 11:30
Uitzendkantoor Bach III
BachPlus
Chorister with BachPlus performing music by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, under the direction of Bart Naessens (Jezuïtenkapel, Aalst, BE)
05/19/2024 | 17:00
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble
On tour with the 2024 Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble, under the direction of Manfred Cordes (St. Nicolai, Hameln, DE)
More Info →05/18/2024 | 19:00
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble
On tour with the 2024 Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble, under the direction of Manfred Cordes (Hauptkirche St. Katharinen, Hamburg, DE)
More Info →05/17/2024 | 19:30
Göttingen International Handel Festival: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble
Performance at the Göttingen International Handel Festival with the 2024 Europäisches Hanse-Ensemble, under the direction of Manfred Cordes (Rathaus, Duderstadt, DE)
More Info →05/11/2024 | 20:00
Serenade van Stemmen - Fanny en Felix
Ars Musica
Chorister with Ars Musica, under the direction of Patrick van der Linden (Orgelpark, Amsterdam, NL)
More Info →05/10/2024 | 20:00
Serenade van Stemmen - Fanny en Felix
Ars Musica
Chorister with Ars Musica, under the direction of Patrick van der Linden (Trinitatiskapel, Dordrecht, NL)
More Info →04/24/2024 | 20:00
de Meij: Planet Earth
Consensus Vocalis and het Nederlands Douane Orkest
Chorister with Consensus Vocalis for Johan de Meij's Symphony no. 3: Planet Earth, under the direction of Björn Bus (Wilminktheater en Muziekcentrum, Enschede, NL)
04/22/2024 | 20:00
de Meij: Planet Earth
Consensus Vocalis and het Nederlands Douane Orkest
Chorister with Consensus Vocalis for Johan de Meij's Symphony no. 3: Planet Earth, under the direction of Björn Bus (PLT - Theater, Heerlen, NL)
04/21/2024 | 15:00
Buxtehude: Membra Jesu Nostri
Camerata Nuova
Soloist in Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri with Camerata Nuova, under the direction of Marta Leda (Goede Herderkerk, Zoeterwoude-Rijndijk, NL)
04/15/2024 | 20:00
de Meij: Planet Earth
Consensus Vocalis and het Nederlands Douane Orkest
Chorister with Consensus Vocalis for Johan de Meij's Symphony no. 3: Planet Earth, under the direction of Björn Bus (De Harmonie, Leeuwarden, NL)
04/13/2024
Barokconcert
COV Laudano
Soloist for Lotti's Missa Sapientiae, Buxtehude's Jesu Meines Lebens Leben, Vivaldi's Credo, and Graupner's Herr, die Wasserströhme erheben sich, under the direction of Marteen Koopman (Hervormde gemeente, Nieuwe Tonge, NL)
04/06/2024 | 14:15
Cherubini: Requiem in C; Mozart: Kyrie
Groot Omroepkoor and Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
Chorister with the Groot Omroepkoor for Cherubini's Requiem in C and Mozart's Kyrie, under the direction of Paul McCreesh (Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, NL)
03/16/2024 | 20:00
J.S. Bach: Johannes Passion
BachPlus
J.S. Bach's Johannes Passion with BachPlus, under the direction of Bart Naessens (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bijstandkerk, Aalst, BE)
02/25/2024 | 17:30
Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day
BachPlus
Chorister with BachPlus for Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day, under the direction of Bart Naessens (Abdijkerk, Steenbrugge, BE)
02/10/2024 | 14:15
Bruckner: Mass No. 3 in F minor
Groot Omroepkoor and Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
Chorister for Bruckner's Mass No. 3 in F minor with the Groot Omroepkoor and Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, under the direction of Sascha Goetzel (Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, NL)
11/18/2023 | 15:00
The Music of Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre
Rue Regrattier and Musica Antica
Concert with Rue Regrattier as a part of Musica Antica's Barokcafé series, performing works by Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (Paleiskerk, Den Haag, NL)
10/28/2023 | 12:15
Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day
BachPlus and Radio Klara
Chorister with BachPlus for Handel’s Ode for St Cecilia's Day (broadcast on Radio Klara for Iedereen Klassiek), under the direction of Bart Naessens (Concertgebouw Brugge, Brugge, BE)
10/28/2023 | 10:30
Handel: Messiah ('Zot van Haendel')
BachPlus and Radio Klara
Chorister with BachPlus for Handel’s Messiah (broadcast on Radio Klara for Iedereen Klassiek), under the direction of Bart Naessens (Concertgebouw Brugge, Brugge, BE)
08/05/2023 | 21:00
F. Couperin: Leçons de Tenébrès
Christ Church Cathedral After Dark
Soloist for F. Couperin: Leçons de Tenébrès, with Chelsea Kutyn - soprano, and Christina Hutten - organ (Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, CA)
08/04/2023 | 19:30
Next Generation Artist: "Party like it's 1694!"
Early Music Vancouver
Next Generation Artist in "Party like it’s 1694! Celebrating Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre" (St. James' Community Square, Vancouver, CA)
06/17/2023 | 20:15
Excerpts from Mozart: Mass in C minor and Rossini: Petite messe solennelle
Zuid-Hollands Symfonieorkest
Soloist for excerpts from W.A. Mozart's Mass in C minor and G. Rossini' Petite messe solennelle with the Zuid-Hollands Symfonieorkest, under the direction of Dominic Sierat (Noorderkerk, Den Haag, NL)
About Ai:
Hello there! I'm Ai (which—in case you were wondering—means ‘indigo-blue’ in Japanese): a soprano originally from Canada’s west coast, now living and working in The Netherlands. I moved from my hometown of Victoria BC to The Hague in the summer of 2021 to complete a Masters degree in Early Music Vocal Studies, and I now split my professional time between Canada and Europe, working as both a solo and ensemble singer. Some of my best memories from performances include dancing with my fellow opera chorus members (dressed as nuns) in the wings right before we headed onstage, walking down the red-velvet stairs to the stage of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for the first time, and watching an elderly woman who was fast asleep for the entirety of Handel’s Messiah wake up just as I started to sing “I know that my Redeemer liveth”. I am so fortunate to have an incredible community of musical colleagues from all over the world, and have made some of wonderful friendships through my musical endeavours. I am one of the four founding members of ‘Rue Regrattier’ (an ensemble dedicated to the promotion and performance of works by women composers of the Baroque era) with my incredible friends and former study-colleagues: American violinist Elana Cooper, New Zealander cellist Bethany Angus, and Polish harpsichordists Marta Pìndor. Our ensemble is named after a street in Paris where composer Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre once lived and worked. Together we have worked to bring Jacquet de la Guerre’s music to life (including her fiery cantata Semélé; a personal favourite of mine), and we are now exploring works by Antonia Bembo and Barbara Strozzi. I have a particular love of pairing music and drama; for my final Masters presentation, I actually wrote an interactive murder mystery called “Who killed Lydia Peabody?”, in which I had all of my instrumentalists act as suspects in the investigation (I’m forever grateful to them for putting up with all of my crazy ideas)! While I love the lightheartedness of this black-comedy piece, I am also passionate about using Early Music to talk about some of the darker things in life - the Baroque composers were obsessed with the notion of “pathos”, and over the last few years I too have been exploring the capabilities of music in evoking a pathetic response. My first such project was "Tenebris": a video presentation using Pergolesi's Stabat Mater to tell a personal story of struggle with mental health, which I created in collaboration with Pacific Opera Victoria and Christ Church Cathedral. My current project—Laments for a Modern World—comprises a set of four unique pieces that I composed with influence from 17th-century Laments, featuring newly-commissioned texts that amplify modern-day stories of race relations, miscarriage, struggles with mental health, and displacement from one’s homeland (stay tuned for updates regarding its release). One of my biggest personal aims to create community and belonging through shared musical experience as both a performer and an educator - my first degree is actually a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and I’ve had the great privilege of teaching an incredibly diverse group of musicians, both young and young-at heart. While I don't currently have a full-time teaching studio, I’m happy to take students on request for voice, piano, and music theory. While living in Canada I also spent many years as a Guider with Girl Guides of Canada, working with a group of spirited young Brownies (girls aged 7-9) who called me “Acorn Owl”. Let me tell you - no one will teach you more about living life In the moment than a group of kids who are experiencing their first camping trip away from home! In my free time, you may find me deep in the woods, hiking in the mountains, at the beach, or (most likely) in any place where I can see lots of happy dogs running around. When I’m not able to be out in nature, I enjoy reading a novel with a cup of tea close at hand, undertaking a seemingly random art project, or testing out new recipes sent to me by my mom. I also love to travel and explore new places; check out my instagram @soprano_ai for some glimpses into my travels! Favourite locales to date include Iwate and Aomori (where I spent a few weeks exploring the Japanese countryside after my first year of University), Delft (a super-cute Dutch city, complete with centuries-old canals and first-rate apple pie), the Bavarian Alps (where I was humbled by the speed at which Germans can hike up a mountain), and Maiori (a beautiful vacation-town on the Amalfi coast). But honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever find any place quite as beautiful as Vancouver Island where I grew up, and which will always be ‘home’ to me no matter how long I’ve been away. Feel free to get in touch with me using the contact form on my website - I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible!ホートン藍
Ai Horton
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